I Can’t Just Sit and Watch America Sink – Part One

by Fr Richard Heilman | August 22, 2023 3:00 PM

Can we be honest? Our nation has collapsed into very hard times that are, very quickly, racing toward historically extreme hard times. Before any accusations of being political, I believe you all know I love America. For goodness’ sake! This is our mission territory so YES I have a heart for all the souls in this great country of ours!

I don’t want to write a book here, so let me try to do my best to encapsulate my thoughts. This is what I see. Go ahead and correct me, if your view is different.

I’m not a historian, but I think I have more than just a passing interest in history. It doesn’t take a PhD in history to observe that we seem to pass through eras of good times followed by eras of hard times. History repeats itself.

United States Marine Corps veteran, Michael Hopf, captures it this way: “Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And weak men create hard times.”

But, this seems startling different in this historical moment. Heralded for almost all of its 247 years, our nation has led the world in its strong morals, character and values. It would seem the writers of our constitution were inspired geniuses, yet President John Adams quickly warned that …

“… we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” – John Adams, October 11, 1798.

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.” There it is. Our constitution does not create strong morally and religious people, it depends on the strength of the moral and religious for its survival. And this is why our nation has been a sinking ship that is about to go under.

Prior to Covid, we had eroded to just 30% who practiced their faith. After Covid, fully one-third of those did not return to the faith. This means we are left with just 20% who are the strong moral and religious among us. In Europe, it is a startling 5-10% who remain with this strength of the faith.

Let’s face it, we are greatly outnumbered by the unbridled among us – 80-95% – whose unbridled passions are set on greed, power and vengeance, or those who dutifully or even fearfully do the bidding of those who have seized power and control. The old adage, “Sitting ducks” comes to mind, which means, “an easy or defenseless target.”

The two greatest tactics of the devil – pride and fear – are in full force. An aristocratic ruling class has seized total power and control. Unbridled as they are, they have no moral filter. And so, they are totally free to lie, cheat and steal their way into this power and control as they dictate to the masses every horror unto God.

While we spoke of just 20% who remain moral and religious in America, what percentage of that 20% remnant are those who are actually taking a stand against this oppressive ruling class now in power? I don’t know, but it seems like maybe .0001% at best. While these heroic few face the persecution/vengeance of the evil ruling class in power, they are being punished/disciplined by the spiritual leaders of our day who fear upsetting this unbridled ruling class.

This is nothing new, since it was the spiritual leaders of Christ’s day who handed Him over to the tyrannical ruling class of His day to be crucified. We must never forget that, as much as the feeble spiritual leaders of our day want to paint Jesus as an effeminate passivist who would never speak a harsh word … never challenge the leaders of His day, it was this same Jesus (sinless as He was) Who held nothing back as He called them out: “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33).

For sake of length, I want to conclude this portion of my reflection. In this first part, I wanted to very honestly write about the reality of this historic moment. I’m writing this on my retreat/vacation, as I am enjoying a slower pace and time to ponder these realities in a fresh way. The next portion of my reflection will focus upon what I ABSOLUTELY believe is the answer for saving this sinking ship we call America!!

ADDENDUM:

I just realized I wrote this on the Queenship of Mary. This is Mary whose Canticle, prayed at Vespers, proclaims:

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.

 

He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

 

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.

 

He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.

The week of August 22 was also the week Oliver Anthony’s “Rich Men North of Richmond[1]” soared to the number one song in America. This was also the conclusion of week #1 of our 54 Day Rosary Novena called, “Novena fo Our Nation” (See HERE[2]). With the powerful intercession of Our Lady, I believe the proud, mighty and rich are about to be cast down. Stay tuned for Part Two of this reflection.

Source URL: https://usgraceforce.com/i-cant-just-sit-and-watch-america-sink-part-one/

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